Dianthus (pinks, sweet William, carnation)
Dianthus spp. (D. plumarius, D. gratianopolitanus, D. deltoides, D. barbatus, D. caryophyllus and hybrids) · Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)
| Hardiness zones | 3 to 9 |
|---|---|
| Sun | full sun |
| Water | low |
| Life cycle | perennial |
| Frost | Hardy: takes frost |
| Soil pH | 6.0–8.0 |
About Dianthus (pinks, sweet William, carnation)
Dianthus is a big group: low, clove-scented pinks, sweet William (a biennial or short-lived perennial) and the taller carnation. Most have gray-green, grassy leaves and fringed flowers in pink, red, white and purple, loved by bees and butterflies. Newer hybrids such as 'Jolt Pink' bloom from spring to frost and handle summer heat.
Pinks and sweet William are hardy in zones 3-9, carnations only in 6-9; many hybrid bedding types are grown as annuals.
When to plant
Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.
Grow from seed, cuttings, layering or division (NC State). Sweet William usually flowers its second year from seed. Divide perennial pinks every 2-3 years or when the center dies out, best in early spring (Wisconsin; NC State).
Soil
Well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline; poor drainage leads to crown rot (NC State, Wisconsin).
Follow a soil test; dianthus likes well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, so add lime only if the test calls for it (NC State; Clemson).
Feeding
- early spring, before new growth starts: slow-release complete fertilizer such as 12-6-6. Scatter 1-2 lb per 100 sq ft and water it in (Clemson).
Soggy soil and crowding lead to crown and root rot (NC State).
Harvest
Pinks bloom from May to July, carnations in midsummer, and newer hybrids from spring to frost. Deadhead or shear after the first flush for repeat bloom (NC State, Wisconsin).
Varieties (29)
| Variety | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath's Pink | Cheddar pink (D. gratianopolitanus) | Low 6-8 in mat of blue-gray leaves with fragrant pink flowers; spreads 2-2.5 ft. | |
| Firewitch | Cheddar pink (D. gratianopolitanus) | Fragrant magenta-pink flowers over compact silvery foliage. | |
| Birmingham | Cottage pink (D. plumarius) | Compact plant with dense bloom. | |
| Constant Beauty Crush Rose | Hybrid | A named dianthus in NC State's plant toolbox. | |
| Ideal Violet | Hybrid | Violet flowers. | |
| Vivid Bright Light | Hybrid | A named dianthus in NC State's plant toolbox. | |
| American Pie Bumbleberry Pie | Hybrid pink | A named dianthus in NC State's plant toolbox. | |
| Capitan Magnifica | Interspecific hybrid | Pink-and-white bicolor flowers. | |
| Supra Cherry Picotee | Interspecific hybrid | Cherry-centered flowers with pale edges. | |
| Supra Pink | Interspecific hybrid | Mottled pink, frilly flowers. | |
| Amazon Neon Cherry | Interspecific hybrid (D. barbatus type) | Bright cherry-colored clusters on stems up to about 2 ft; sweetly fragrant and good for cutting. | |
| Amazon Neon Duo | Interspecific hybrid (D. barbatus type) | Bright cherry-red and purple clusters on the same plant; stems up to about 2 ft (17-in average in NC State's 2002 trial), large heads, glossy dark leaves that turn burgundy in cold, light fragrance and long vase life. | |
| Amazon Neon Purple | Interspecific hybrid (D. barbatus type) | Bright purple clusters on stems up to about 2 ft; sweetly fragrant and good for cutting. | |
| Amazon Rose Magic | Interspecific hybrid (D. barbatus type) | Each cluster mixes rose, pink, cherry and white florets; stems up to about 2 ft. | |
| Bouquet Purple | Interspecific hybrid (D. barbatus type) | Bright purple, lightly sweet-scented clusters on 16-in average stems; very productive (about 11 stems per plant) and easy from seed in NC State's 2001 cut-flower trial, where it was called the most promising cut flower of the year. About 7 days in the vase. | |
| Jolt Pink | Interspecific hybrid (D. barbatus type) | Pink flowers. | |
| Albus | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Pure white flowers. | |
| Green Ball | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Dense green, ball-shaped bracts used in arrangements. | |
| Heart Attack | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Dark blood-red flowers; tolerates heat and humidity well. | |
| Homeland | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Dark red flowers with a white eye. | |
| Newport Pink | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Deep rose-pink flowers. | |
| Noverna | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Vigorous plants that resist powdery mildew. | |
| Sooty | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Very dark red, nearly black flowers, smaller than most. | |
| Sweet Coral | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Soft coral, fragrant flowers on 15-in average stems; heat tolerant, and the color fades fairly fast. About 10 days in the vase in NC State's 2004 trial. | |
| Sweet Purple | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Vivid purple clusters over dark foliage on 15-in average stems (6-28 in); light fragrance; about 6 stems per plant and 9 days in the vase in NC State's 2004 trials. | |
| Sweet Red | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | True dark red, fragrant, branching and productive, on 13-15-in stems; flowers can brown in hot sun. About 7-9 days in the vase in NC State's 2004-2005 trials. | |
| Sweet Scarlet | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Muted scarlet-red that held up in sun better than 'Sweet Red', but stems were short; browned in rain and at 27 F frost in NC State's 2006 trial. | |
| Sweet White | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Clean bright white, fragrant clusters on 15-in average stems, a bit shorter than the red and purple Sweets; about 8 days in the vase in NC State's 2004 trials. A few plants came up pink. | |
| Wee Willie | Sweet William (D. barbatus) | Very dwarf, about 6 in tall; suited to containers. |
Pests to watch for
Slugs, Brown garden snail
Diseases and problems
Crown rot, Root rot, Rust
In the kitchen
Petals are edible if grown without pesticides; the leaves are not (NC State).
Keeping it: Pick edible flowers the day you use them; if you must hold them, keep them in a plastic bag in the fridge for a day or so.
Safety: Leaves hold saponins that can cause mild stomach upset if eaten and brief skin irritation (NC State).
Pets: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA lists carnation, pinks and sweet William); NC State says signs are usually mild stomach upset and mild skin irritation.
Sources
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- hort.extension.wisc.edu
- aspca.org
- aspca.org
- aspca.org
- hgic.clemson.edu
Photo: Photo: Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo resized for the web.
Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.